Opinion Article 2 (Death Penalty)

Shamaica Smith                                                                                 Opinion Article

November 20, 2015                                                                          COM 3200-01

What if you found out a loved one very close to you was in an abusive relationship for years, and finally when he/she reacts, they react in so much anger and ends up murdering their spouse? Do they have the right to be given the death penalty? The Death Penalty is a cruel act that needs to stay abolished. Instead of decreasing murder, it’s actually increasing murder. Watching someone gets tortured in a slow and painful procedure is definitely a cruel punishment. Not only is it cruel punishment, it’s a violation to our rights as U.S Citizen, and to the 8^th amendment.

             Execution is actually less disciplinary than life without parole. Prison life is already hard enough; not being able to have freedom is hard enough. The government can be hypocritical in a way. Although the “murderer” took an innocent life, is it okay for the government to violate the 8^th amendment and take that person’s life? This is known for the “eye for eye theory or the tooth- for tooth. If we were suppose to think like this, or use this system there would be no need for laws. The system way of thinking of this situation is basically saying if someone hits you, hit them back. This type of solution doesn’t reach a verdict and only makes matters worse.

            There are many reasons one might be against the death penalty. The wrongful execution of an innocent person is an injustice that can never be rectify. Many family members who have lost loved ones to murder feel that the death penalty will not heal their wounds nor will it end their pain, they would much rather know the person has life without parole. The situation which makes death penalty a cruel act is death penalty is applied at random. The death penalty is a lethal lottery: of the 22,000 homicides committed every year approximately 100 people or less are sentenced to death. How could a lottery determine if one lives or dies?

The death penalty can stay abolish by starting with us. We can first educate people who don’t know about the death penalty then we can contact our elected officials and let them know how you feel. There are many states that are without the death penalty because their voice was heard. They did something to stop a cruel act. This plan will work because your letting the people who are in charge know how you feel, and you are standing up for your rights, as well as making society a better place. The national coalition is an organization that is against the death penalty, you can join that movement, participate in rallied, write letters to editor.  Simply being a voice against the death penalty in the community can help the abolishment of the death penalty completely. If we stand up for our rights, we would no longer worry about another person’s life being taken away by the department of justice.

Opinion Article (Student Debt)

Shamaica smith                                                                                   COM 3200-01

November 17, 2015                                                                            Opinion Article

Just imagine spending years in college with high hope of finally succeeding... But when you've finally succeeded, something is holding you back from pursuing what you've been waiting so long for ..., that something is student debt! With increased costs in higher education and lower public investments, tuitions and fees increase; students rely on loans; as debt increases. College degree has long been viewed as the way out of poverty. A low-income individual without a college degree will very likely remain in the lower part of their earnings distribution, whereas a low income individual with a college degree could just as easily land in any income, including the highest. Many parents believe going to college is a norm in society to success. Many individuals go to college as a way to move up in their social class. In society as of right now, individuals are definitely being convinced to take out loans. Society have many believing that if they don't go to college they will amount to nothing and live in poverty because that's what everyone is telling them, but yet it costs $20K/year to attend college, which they can't afford. These students then turn to student loans with the idea of sure I can pay for college with student loans, I would not have to pay back anything until I graduate. But overall, they do not think of the aftermath.

   Some parents/student take out student loans because of the benefits they hope to receive once the student obtain their degree. While, some students and parents don’t believe in taking out student loan to fund their education, but with the cost of tuition increasing every year, it’s almost impossible not to take out loans to fund your education. Personally when it comes to student loans, I have mix opinion on this subject. There are advantages and disadvantages.  For my first two years in college my parents haven’t taken out any loans for me, until this year, I definitely would need to take out student loans up until I graduate. Although, I generally believe learning should never be cease, the system can be unfair. The entire student loan system can and should be rationalized and improved.

Many individuals take out student loans and end up in student debt, but when they finally receive their degree, it’s no job to be found. So these individuals basically spent many years in college, taken out student loans when needed, ends up with a lot of debts with no job to repay these debt, when most of these debts are triple the amount of the original debt the student first took out. Many of the student loans are held by individuals who left college before graduation, meaning they have incurred “debt without diploma.” Some students/parents are ultimately grateful for their debt because it took them places, and made the impossible possible. As of right now in society, the value produced by higher education has become disconnected from the rising cost of tuition.

A fair policy needs to be put in place upon taking out student loan, to ensure an individual would not end up in an exceed amount of debt. If a student take out loans, but completes college and doesn’t land a job, it should be a program where their loans are forgivable after 2 years. In my opinion, they showed enough motivation by going to college and taking the first step by completing college. If they find a job before two years, they should be responsible to repay back their loans. If a student do finish school, with a stable job, there should also be a policy put into place to accommodate the student income. This way, the student will have the ability to pay off their loans within a given reasonable time, but also would not be in a serious amount of debt. It's unfair when a policy is implemented wherein if you don't pay off your debt within a certain amount of time, an increase is added to your original debt.
Another policy that could be implemented is the increase access to need- based student aid. Since college tuition is gradually increasing, they should increase financial aid as well (Pell, Tap, Scholarships etc...) A Financial aid policy should ensure that students from all backgrounds can get a college education without taking on overwhelming debt or excessive outside work that reduces the odds of completing their degree. Truly supporting college success requires more need-based grant aid that helps limit how much students need to borrow and work while in school, and a financial aid process that is a gateway to success rather than an obstacle. Improvement in the availability and accuracy of information about financial assistance options needs to be put in place and fully understood. Loan companies should also ensure access to flexible, affordable repayment options, which are negotiable.

Two weekly articles

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Featured Article

 Shamaica Smith                                                                                   News Writing

October 30, 2015                                                                                Featured writing article

Think for one second about losing someone you’ve loved your whole entire life, you couldn’t imagine life without them. Until you have no other choice, but to lose that person due to cancer. Losing a loved one to cancer can be a difficult and painful time. I know because Cancer is a common disease that is genetically inherited in my family. Having twin cousins losing their mother at the age of 14 has really affected their emotions and view on life.

 Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide. There are many causes that prohibit cancer, but one may not think of the pain and suffering it leaves those behind, due to losing someone over cancer.

Did you know over 1 million family suffers from the result of a loved one affected by cancer? A cancer diagnose changes your life and the lives of people who love you. At the age of 14, my twin cousins lost their mother, my first aunt, due to pancreatic cancer. The pain she was going through was unbearable, but the result of her death was even more intolerable.

“I didn’t know how I was going to live my life without the only person I looked too for guidance as to how I should live my life” said Raneil, 21. “It’s devastating to have to take on adult responsibilities at the age of 14.”

 Figuring out what’s for dinner or what your plans are for the weekend is suddenly less important. Family and personal values are questioned and priorities are tested and changed.

 I remember when my aunt was down to her last days; my twin cousins couldn’t hold their emotions together. They didn’t know what they were going to do, how they were going to live.

At the age of 14, your thinking about graduating high school, peer pressures you’re facing to fit in with society, prom etc.. Losing the only person you know to financially depend on for moral and physical support is the last thing on your mind.

When a parent has cancer, the impact on the child typically varies according to their age and gender, say Bruce E. Compas, PhD, professor of psychology and human development and professor of pediatrics at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, Tenn. Compas found that teenager, especially adolescent girls, experienced the greatest distress.

During their mother last days, I realized my twin cousins would miss meals frequently. This resulted in them losing excessive weight. This was a sign of depression, which could later turn into something even more serious.  Depression lowers a person’s quality of life, undermining their emotional and physical strength.

“The best way to deal with the after effect is to communicate, ask questions, and understand the person behavior” Shaneil, 21. Expect shifts in one’s behavior as they adjust to the changes resulting from your cancer diagnosis and treatment. Younger children may become overly clingy or impulsive. Meanwhile, older children or teenagers may become angry or distant and withdraw from family activities.

When my Aunt found out she was diagnosed with cancer, my twin cousins quickly became distant. She was now coping with guilt. She was now feeling guilty over a situation she had no control over.

It is important for someone who is going through the after affect of losing someone due to cancer, to talk about their feelings and what they’re experiencing. If one cannot talk to someone close to them, they should consider talking to someone other than close relatives or friends, or even talking to a counselor or engaging with a support group would provide a brighter light on the situation. Speaking to someone who has had a similar experience to you may be helpful.